Valparaiso University head football coach Tom Horne announced the addition of 55 recruits for the 2002 season. The class includes 12 offensive linemen, nine defensive linemen, one offensive/defensive lineman, nine linebackers, five defensive backs, four quarterbacks, four wide receivers, two fullbacks, two tight ends, three fullback/linebackers, one quarterback/wide receiver, one tight end/defensive end and two placekicker/punters.

"This is the largest recruiting class we've ever had," Horne said. "It is a class that's laden with good young talent. Combined with last year's class, this is the best young talent we've had since I've been here.

"We had a need for offensive and defensive linemen, and our staff did an outstanding job of bringing those people in," Horne added.

The following is the list of the 2002 Valparaiso University football recruiting class:

NAME POS HT WT YR HOMETOWN/H.S.
ALLEN, Michael DB 5-11 185 Fr. Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan
AUBRECHT, Paul OL 6-4 285 So. Littleton, Colo./Mullen/Colorado State
AUGUSTINE, Matthew LB 6-1 205 Fr. Muskego, Wis./Muskego
BAKER, Mitch DT 6-1 235 Fr. Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso
BANDY, Bryan OLB/DE 6-4 220 Fr. Barrington, Ill./Barrington
BATEMAN, Ryan PK/P 6-0 165 Jr. Chester, Cal./Shasta JC
BOLAND, Chad LB 6-1 210 Fr. Whiting, Ind./Whiting
CANTRELL, James QB/WR 6-2 180 Fr. Sugarland, Texas/Clements
CLARK, Robert FB 6-0 220 Fr. East Palestine, Ohio/East Palestine
COLLETT, Matthew DL 6-0 225 Fr. Crescent Springs, Ky./Covington Catholic
CRITCHELL, Andrew LB 6-1 220 Fr. Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Point
DUCZEK, Michael DL 5-11 215 Fr. Barrington Hills, Ill./Barrington Hills
FEIT, Jake TE/DE 6-1 220 Fr. Barrington, Ill./Barrington
FERGUSON, David OL 6-0 260 Fr. Leesburg, Ind./Warsaw
FREEMAN, Xavier WR 6-3 190 Fr. Gary, Ind./Mann
GAGE, Steven FB/LB 5-10 205 Fr. Franklin, Wis./Franklin
GOLITKO, Andrew QB 6-1 180 Fr. Macomb, Mich./Dakota
GREGAIT, Adam OL 6-2 250 Fr. Geneva, Ill./Geneva
GUYNN, Kevin LB 6-0 190 Fr. Mt. Prospect, Ill./St. Viator
HELM, Christopher FB 6-0 210 Fr. Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg
HILL, Scott WR 5-10 155 Fr. Goshen, Ind./Northwood
HLADY, Steven OL 6-3 235 Fr. Montague, Mich./Montague
HOFFMAN, Matthew DL 6-0 250 Fr. Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette
HORNBERGER, Josh FB/LB 5-11 210 Fr. Suman, Ind./Milan
JACKSON, Cory OL 6-6 350 Fr. Pegram, Tenn./Christian Presby. Academy
JOHNSON, Christopher OL 6-5 290 Fr. Novelty, Ohio/West Geauga
JONES, Mike DB 6-2 170 Fr. Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich
KALKA, Matthew OL 6-3 260 Fr. South Bend, Ind./Washington
KOSKO, Wesley LB 6-2 210 Fr. Emporia, Kan./Emporia
LaSHORNE, Paul OL 6-5 280 Fr. Seymour, Ind./Seymour
LIEDER, Kris LB 6-4 195 Fr. Tomball, Texas/Concordia Lutheran
MACCHI, David QB 6-0 190 Jr. San Jose, Cal./West Valley College
MARLEY, Robert LB 6-4 200 Fr. Roswell, N.M./Roswell Military Institute
MARSHALL, Bill TE 6-5 200 Fr. Hobart, Ind./Hobart
McCAWLEY, Andrew K/P 5-10 145 Fr. Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep
MORAN, Jason WR 6-1 185 Fr. Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence
NORRIS, Peter OL 6-2 250 Fr. Angola, Ind./Angola
NOVACICH, Nicholas FB/LB 5-11 235 Fr. Chicago, Ill./DeLaSalle
PALONKA, Ryan OL 6-0 255 Fr. Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton
PARKER, Antony OL/DL 6-2 285 Fr. Schiller Park, Ill./Holy Cross
RIKER, James DE 6-1 215 Fr. Tekonsha, Mich./Tekonsha
RO, Seungyeup DT 6-1 275 Fr. Palatine, Ill./Fremd
ROHDE, Pat TE 6-0 205 Fr. Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac
SCHAEKEL, John DB 5-10 175 Fr. Tomball, Texas/Concordia Lutheran
SHALE, Jesse QB 6-0 190 Fr. Lake Village, Ind./North Newton
SHAMBURG, Dustin QB 6-0 190 Fr. Aurora, Colo./Aurora
SHREVE, Brandon WR 5-7 150 Fr. Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield
SLAUGHTER, E.J. DB 5-9 170 Fr. St. Charles, Mo./West
STROSS, Anthony DB 5-10 160 Fr. Avon, Ohio/Avon Lake
STURMAN, Brandon LB 5-9 205 Fr. Brookeville, Md./Sherwood
SWIHART, Jeff DE 6-0 210 Fr. Goshen, Ind./Northwood
TURNBLOM, Christopher OL 6-3 340 Fr. Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven
VANDERCOOK, Corey DL 6-4 240 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Catholic
WALLACE, Matthew DL 6-2 230 Fr. Dana, Ind./South Vermillion
WHITEHEAD, Mitchell OL 6-0 245 Fr. Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso